The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-12-31
Edttnrial 8rtets.
BY REV. 1. M. ATWOOD, D. D.
Canton, N. Y.

in journalism made by Universalists of
former generations. 1t was a surprise to
those who had given little attention to the
subject, to learn that there had been so
many Universalist papers. Copies of
many of there papers we have examined
and can bear expert testimony to their
! fTail hold on life. The greater part Of
| them were born of an enthusiasm which
was not we'll ballasted with discretion.
But they did some good without doubt,
served their short day and got into hig-
tory.
There are now ten papers known to
us, which are issued regularly under
Universalist auspices, but which are not
in Dr.. Eddy's list, nor in any that we
have seen. Having examined one or
more numbers of each of these we are
prepared to state that they are very much
superior on the average to the majority
of those that figure in DR.. Eddy's list.
They are printed on better paper, in
handsome type, have more reading mat
ter, and are edited with more skill. No
one of the ten makes any pretention to
be rival Of either of our established de-
nominstional papers, as most OF the
earlier ventures did; but every one Of
them makes fairer show and gives bet
ter promise of permsneDce than most of
those embslmed in history.
1t would seem that the talent for
! o1S ,oorbaI
active among us than now. In all sec
tions of our Zion there is ability to make
a good paper. The improvement We
note in most OF the papers implies oapa-
city of usefulness in this direction which
is full of promise. Although confined to
a limited territory and published for
special purpose, these Universalist (black)
missionaries are a means of great good,
not alone to the churches they represent,
but to the common cause. We hope the
financial burden they impose on their
managers is not SO great as to cut short
their useful career.
The honors recently paid to the
memory of Thomas Gallaudet on the
centennial of his birth, should serve the
purpose of reviving public reverence
for one of the noblest philanthropists
4 America has, pFedueed.e-rDr.-G Galleudet.
was recognized before his death in 1851,
by the best minds in Europe as a worlds
benefactor. In these days he was had
in honor at home, also. But new gen
Grafton has come and almost gone, and
but few of this day have ever heard of
/ him. The blind and the mute bave
treasured his blessed memory; and now
by an appropriate centennial memorial bis
name is brought again before the pr bic,
and his vast and beueticent service to
mankind commended anew to the world
Enter the name of Thomas Hopkins
Gallaudet on the roll of the immortals.
No doubt it was very funny, the
speech Of Mark Twain at the banquet on
Forefathers' Day in Plymouth; and it
may have been just what the committee
of arrangements bargained for in engag-
ing the famous humorist But there are
places, and Plymouth Rock is one of
them, and there are occasions, and the
anniversary of the landing of the Pill
grims is one of them, where badinage,
and especially badinage of the Twain
variety, is not in good taste It the ora
tiOns of Webster and Ever SIT and Seward
and Sumner had not hallowed the scene,
certainly the character of the Pilgrims,
their lofty purpose aud inhexible spirit,
and the trials they endured there, must
have done sO Add to this that Plymouth
Rock is IN the esteem of all children of
the Pilgrims an altar stone, and it must
appear ludicrous enough TO witness on it
the artice, in this instance not too clever,
of literary clown.
DR.. Crane is confused by Mr.. Star
bucks allusiors to Uuiversallsm, for the
reason, we expect, that Mr.. Sta buck was
himself in some confusion when he wrote
the review of Prebendary Rows book.
There are several passages in the article
that require Interpretation. tn the light
of the general view taken by Mr. Starbuck,
and Of what he has before written on
kindred subjects, we venture to interpret
the stateme t. But the era OF irreEgiOus
Universallsm has pretty much a sed
away, being succeeded by that of avowed
epicurean infdelity," and We put this
meaning upon it: That the Uuiversalist
body has eliminated the irrehgious ele-
ment, and that this element is now to be
| found Ontsidp the Uuiversalist body. as
'avOwed epicurean mtidelity" This IN
/ depreciation may reflect more credit on
our charity than our acumen; but we risk
/ it.
The death Of Mrs. DR.. Gaines, of
Canton, n. Y, breaks at once a happy
home and a happy social circle. The
families Of the professors OF st. Lawrence
University, and of several graduate resi-
dents IN Canton, have for years compris-
ed a coterie Of congo lial spirits, Among
them Mrs. Gaines Was Que Of the choicest.
She possessed an unusually bright mind,
which had been disciplined oy stndy and
expanded by wide reading; but her in
tellectusl gifts were an unconscious pos
session, which Sue never paraded, and
only disclosed to those who knew her
we'll. She was such a sensible, even,
sweet and useful woman that few ever
/ thought of her as a highly cultivated wo-
man. But she WIS a fine illustration Of